
30
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON QUARTERLY
Notes
1.
"Still burdened in behalf of Israel, Daniel studied anew
the prophecies of Jeremiah. They were very plain,—so plain
that he understood by these testimonies recorded in books the
number of the years, whereof the word of the Lord came to
Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years
in the desolations of Jerusalem.'
"With faith founded on the sure word of prophecy, Daniel
pleaded with the Lord for the speedy fulfillment of these
promises. He pleaded for the honor of God to be preserved.
In his petition he identified himself fully with those who had
fallen short of the divine purpose, confessing their sins as his
own."—"The Story of Prophets and Kings," pages 554, 555.
2.
The word rendered "determined" means also "cut off."
The period of seventy weeks, or 490 years, could be cut off
only from the longer period of 2,300 years, the part of the
vision which the angel had not before explained.
3.
The seventh year of Artaxerxes, when the command-
ment went forth, was
B. C.
457. "This date of the seventh
year—so important to ascertain—is fixed by the combined
record of sacred and profane history with uncommon ac-
curacy." One important witness is the canon of Ptolemy,
giving the years of the reigns of the kings of ancient empires
from the days of Assyria to his own time, in the days of Rome.
4.
"The seventy weeks, or 490 years, especially allotted
to the Jews, ended, as we have seen, in
A.
D. 34. At that time,
through the action of the Jewish Sanhedrin, the nation sealed
its rejection of the gospel, by the martyrdom of Stephen and
the persecution of the followers of Christ. Then the message
of salvation, no longer restricted to the chosen people, was
given to the world. The disciples, forced by persecution to
flee from Jerusalem, 'went everywhere preaching the Word.'
`Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ
unto them.' Peter, divinely guided, opened the gospel to the
centurion of Cwsarea, the God-fearing Cornelius; and the
ardent Paul, won to the faith of Christ, was commissioned to
carry the glad tidings 'far hence unto the gentiles.' "—"The
Great Controversy," page 328.
5.
"The seventy weeks, or 490 years, were to pertain espe-
cially to the Jews. At the expiration of this period, the nation
sealed its rejection of Christ by the persecution of His disci-
ples, and the apostles turned to the gentiles,
A. D.
34. The
first 490 years of the 2,300 having then ended, 1,810 years
would remain. From
A. D.
34, 1,810 years extend to 1844.
`Then,' said the angel, 'shall the sanctuary be cleansed.' All
the preceding specifications of the prophecy had been un-
questionably fulfilled at the time appointed."
—Id.,
page 410.
6.
"Says the prophet: 'Who may abide the day of His